I believe it is safe to assume that we have all experienced that vicious, uninvited cold that loves to brutally punch us in the face at the beginning of each semester. Even if we relentlessly put up our “Do Not Disturb” sign, it still does not seem to take the hint that it is not welcome here.
Although we would absolutely adore continuously staying in bed for five days (who is bringing the soup?), our acquaintance is constantly in the back of our mind. And who is this acquaintance, you might ask? Well, none other than Responsibility. Ah, there is that sigh of annoyance I was waiting for. One attribute about Responsibility that you must remember: Responsibility is unforgiving.
For starters, going to class when you are sick is an incredible feat to accomplish. Responsibility tells you to rip off those covers, put some clothes on and fix yourself up because you are not looking so hot. With your droopy eyes, runny nose and low morale you enter class and take a seat.
Now, this is the part that you have been trying to avoid. We have all been in a lecture with a snot-sucker and a loud-cougher, and it is not something that can be prevented. No matter how many tissues you bring or how much hot tea you drink during class, you are still going to be that person. Do not be ashamed, because we have all been there.
So you barely made it through the school day alive, but it does not stop there. Do not forget that you have a job. One option would be to call in sick and lapse into a coma, but you are in college. Now, if you’re in college, there is a high probability that you are broke. So can you really afford to call in sick? (It’s OK to cry, by the way.) You arrive at work, plaster on a smile and occasionally step into the back of the store to violently cough your brains out. You put on a good show, because as you suffer in silence you are doing an exceptional job.
By the end of your shift, you walk like a zombie to your car and proceed home. However, you need to make a quick stop at Target to obtain all the necessary items for fighting a nasty cold. Being sick is not cheap once you add up all the NyQuil (my best friend), tea, orange juice, water, tissues, cough drops and soup. Nonetheless, if you want to recover from this pesky illness, you are going to have to cough it up.
Once you have arrived home, you complete all of your homework – all because of responsibility – and advance to your steamy date with NyQuil. All in all, the most important piece of advice I can give a sick and busy college student is to hang in there and take it easy. You will survive.
